A trio of 1990s basketball greats were among 12 finalists named for possible election into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

Former Seattle SuperSonics guard Gary Payton, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat star Tim Hardaway and Warriors and Sacramento Kings' great Mitch Richmond were all selected as finalists for the Class of 2013. Inductees will be announced at the Final Four in April.

Payton was a nine-time NBA All-Star whose defensive prowess resulted in him being nicknamed "The Glove." Hardaway was a skilled point guard and five-time all-star whose crossover dribble left many opponents flailing as he drove to the basket. The NBA Rookie of the Year in 1989, Richmond was named to six all-star teams. Hardaway and Richmond were teammates with the Warriors, joining with Chris Mullin to form the so-named "Run TMC" attack.

Former Houston Cougars coach Guy Lewis, current Louisville coach Rick Pitino and former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian were also named finalists for the 2013 class.

Other finalists included NBA greats Maurice Cheeks, Spencer Haywood, Bernard King and Tom Heinsohn as a coach; he's already in as a player. Longtime North Carolina women's coach Sylvia Hatchell and five-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley were also named as finalists.

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